RLA PRABHUPDA'S VISION

FOR THE

BHAKTIVEDANTA INSTITUTE

By
Bhaktisvarpa Dmodara Maharja
 rla Prabhupda, my lord and master,

Kindly give me shelter at your lotus feet.

The influence of the modes of nature
Only your divine mercy can cleanse.
Fortunate are those whose hearts were
Touched by your gentle glance.
Krsn dsa Kavirja sings of your glories:
"Guru krsna-rpa hana sstrera pramne
Guru-rpa krsna krp karena bhakta-gane."
The revealed scritures enunciate
The spiritual master to be nondifferent from Krsna;
Krsna in spiritual master's form
Showers blessings upon the devotees.
Gurudeva, I have nothing to offer, but beg
Please bless me, that I may sing
Your glories birth after birth.

Bhaktisvarpa Dmodar

"ISKCON is a spiritual society in which every person in this planet regardless of

religion, community, nationality and so on, can participate. It is a universal
platform wherein people are to be educated in the science of the soul, consciousness
and life's mission. For the first time in the cultural and spiritual history of the world,
everyone can be united under the banner of ISKCON. This is the greatest gift given
by a saintly person in the twentieth century for the well being of everyone on this
planet."

Bhaktisvarpa Dmodar
 All Glories to r Guru and r Gaurn
ga

FOREWARD

rla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupda established the Bhaktivedanta

Institute under the direction of rla Bhaktisvarpa Dmodara Maharja. In the physical
absence of Maharja's direction, what must our responsibility be?

First we must realize that rla Bhaktisvarpa Dmodar Maharja is irreplaceable.

He was specifically empowered by rla Prabhupda to preach Krsna consciousness to
the scientific community. He was also uniquely qualified to fulfill that role as he was
born and raised in a Vaisnava family, and possessed all the good qualities of a genuine
Vaisnava, and he had earned an advanced degree in science (Ph.D. from the University of
California at Irvine in Organic Chemistry).

On the back cover of the book dedicated to him, called Bhagavat Sevarpanam, is
given the most significant message of how a genuine disciple remains in perpetual
contact with his Spiritual Master throughout his life. There, with the faithful disciple
sitting at the bedside of rla Prabhupda, it is written, "The Spiritual Master lives forever
by his divine instructions and the follower lives with him..."

On the first page of this essay, rla Bhaktisvarpa Dmodara Maharja begins
with the same mood: "The disciples live eternally with the divine instructions of the
spiritual master. Those divine instructions are our constant guide and strength." This is
really the sum and substance of Maharja's life.

In a letter dated May 3, 1968, rla Prabhupda writes, "Please be happy in

separation. I am separated from my Guru Maharja since 1936 but I am always with him
so long I work according to his direction. So we should all work together for satisfying
Lord Krishna and in that way the feelings of separation will transform into transcendental
bliss." And on June 22, 1970 he writes to his disciple, "So far I am concerned, I do not
factually feel any separation from my Spiritual Master because I am trying to serve Him
according to His desire." This was the firm conviction of rla Prabhupda throughout
his life.

There are a handful of instructions from rla Prabhupda that are not mentioned
in rla Bhaktisvarpa Dmodara's essay, and which are included here.

In a letter to Bhaktisvarpa Dmodar Maharja on September 30, 1975 rla

Prabhupda explains what the Bhaktivedanta Institue is:

"The Institute will be primarily for those who have not entered our temples. The
subject matter will not be different from what is taught in our temples. There will be no
difference between our temples and the Institute, but the Institute will be official for the
general mass. It will be a formal education and they will get degree. It will be open for
everyone, including those who have already entered our temples, they may also
participate. But, the subject matter should not be different from what is in the temples."

Then on Jan 10, 1976 rla Prabhupda gives the following more specific
directive to Bhaktisvarpa Dmodar Maharja,

"I have read the aims and objects of the Institute and it is done very nicely. I am
satisfied that you are properly understanding the philosophy.

I have also suggested for the GBC's consideration, that we introduce a system of
examinations for the devotees to take. Sometimes there is criticism that our men are not
sufficiently learned, especially the brhmanas. Of course second initiation does not
depend upon passing an examination. How one has molded his lifechanting, attending
arati, etc., these are essential. Still, brhmana means pandita. Therefore I am suggesting
examinations. Bhakti-str(for all brhmanas) based on Bhagavad-gt, r
Iopanisad, Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction, and all the small paper backs.
Bhakti-vaibhvathe above plus first six cantos of rmad-Bhgavatam. Bhakti-
vedntathe above plus cantos 7-12 S.B. Bhakti-srvabhaumathe above plus
Caitanya-caritamrta.

These titles can correspond to entrance, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. So just consider how to
organize this Institute. "

Further, on January 29, 1976 in a letter to Svarpa Dmodar rla Prabhupda

writes,

"In the tentative course outlines some additions are as follows. In the philosophy
section there should be a class dealing with all the Vaisnava philosophies (the four
sampradayas). Music class can be based on the Sama Veda. In the Political Science class
Maharja Prthu's life may also be studied."

Generally, rla Prabhupda is stating that all branches of knowledge may be

studied strictly in the context of Krsna consciousness, within a Vaisnava University,
taking authority from the rmad-Bhgavatam 1.5.22,

idam hi pumsas tapasah rutasya v

svistasya sktasya ca buddhi-dattayoh
avicyuto 'rthah kavibhir nirpito
yad-uttamaloka-gunnuvarnanam

"Learned circles have positively concluded that the infallible purpose of the
advancement of knowledge, namely austerities, study of the Vedas, sacrifice, chanting of
hymns and charity, culminates in the transcendental descriptions of the Lord, who is
defined in choice poetry."
 Then on September 8, 1974 rla Prabhupda writes to Svarpa Dmodar, "You
are one of the strong pillars of the mission. So I have all confidence in you. Follow
strictly all our rules and regulations. Be fully strong to push on this cult amongst the
educated scientific circle."

Finally, once again stressing the great importance of the Institute in a letter to
Armarendra Prabhu dated April 2, 1977, rla Prabhupda writes,

"You may be knowing that we have formed one party of scientists under the
leadership of rman Svarpa Dmodara prabhu. Also we have formed the Bhaktivedanta
Institute for organizing scientific presentations of Krishna Consciousness. This party is
our most important preaching arm with which we will be able to destroy the bogus
speculation and cheating which goes under the banner of scientific advancement.
Therefore I have got great hope for Svarpa Dmodara and his colleagues. I want them to
travel vigorously throughout the world to lecture in all universities and other institutions.
There is no lack of financial resources and we shall spare nothing to see to this party's
success."

The first aphorism of rmad-Bhgavatam is, janmdy asya yato 'nvayd itarata
crthesv abhijah svart. "I meditate upon Lord r Krsna because He is the Absolute
Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of
the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations,
and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him." The purpose of the
Bhaktivedanta Institute is to present this fundamental teaching of rmad-Bhgavatam in
a scientific way, as "Life comes from Life." Thus the message of Bhaktivedanta
Institute is non-different from that of the Bhagavat Purana and Vedanta-sutra.

In 1977, after the completion of the Mumbai Temple in Juhu, when rla
Prabhupda's manifest pastimes were coming to an end, he turned to Svarpa Dmodar
Maharja and said, "The next phase is yours. You must establish our movement as a
genuine scientific movement." rla Prabhupda established Krsna consciousness
throughout the world, and now he wanted it to be accepted scientifically in the highest
academic circles so that the whole world would understand that Krsna consciousness is
not simply religious sentiment but the authentic ontological Truth of Reality.

rpad Maharja sacrificed his life in carrying out this order of rla Prabhupda,
and met with so much success that the enemies of truth felt threatened that he would take
from them the illusions that they so eagerly cherished. r Caitanya Mahprabhu became
as enraged as Lord Nisringhadeva when Nitynanda Prabhu was attacked by Jagai and
Madhai, but Lord Nitynanda magnanimously reminded Mahprabhu that his mission in
Kali Yuga was not to kill the demons but to mercifully save them, for all are fallen in this
age. The followers of rla Prabhupda and rla Bhaktisvarpa Dmodar Maharja are
many, and although, by the Will of Krsna, rla Bhaktisvarpa Dmodar Maharja has
been withdrawn to his eternal pastimes, there is an army of his followers willing to
sacrifice their lives to carry on his mission in this world. With the blessings of all the
Vaisnavas, in a spirit of unified and firm resolve and dedication, we pray that those who
are willing and able to take up the service of Bhaktivedanta Institute may become
glorious in fulfilling the desires of rla Prabhupda and rla rpada.

The Editors
October 11, 2006
Previously issued:
August 1988, Eds. H.H. Robinson, Hanumatpresaka Swami
 om ajana-timirndhasya jnjana-alkay
caksur unmlitam yena tasmai r-gurave namah

nama om visnu pdya krsna presthya bh-tale

rmate bhaktivednta svmin iti nmine

nama te srasvate devam gaura vn pracrine

nirviesa nyavdi pctya dea trine

All glories to His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupda! The

disciples live eternally with the divine instructions of the spiritual master. Those divine
instructions are our constant guide and strength.
In 1974, during the month of August, I spent two weeks in Vrndvana with His
Divine Grace rla Prabhupda. At that time, he was constantly speaking about
expanding the ISKCON preaching projects--especially in the academic world. One day,
Prabhupda called me to his room. Alone in the room with me, he showed me three or
four magazines produced by the Vaisnava Oriental Research Institute. rla Prabhupda's
Godbrother Bon Maharja established this institute many years ago and is situated just
across from the Krsna-Balarma Mandira in Vrndvana. rla Prabhupda asked me
whether I thought we could also establish a Vaisnava Research Institute to preach Krsna
consciousness among the intellectuals all over the world.
I replied, rla Prabhupda, your plans and desires are perfect. It will be highly
essential to establish such an institute as we expand our movement.
Then rla Prabhupda said, You be the director of this project.
rla Prabhupda. I have no experience--I have no knowledge to run such a
project. I am completely unqualified.
I'll give you all the instructions, said rla Prabhupda. You simply follow
them.
Thus, rla Prabhupda's original plan was to establish the Bhaktivedanta Institute
in Vrndvana, the holy Dham.
rla Prabhupda requested Bon Maharja to hand over the Vaisnava Oriental
Research Institute to us. This was quite reasonable, since under Bon Maharja's direction
the Institute's activities were going very slowly. rla Prabhupda also had plans to start
goalla, a cow protection facility, on Bon Maharja's spacious tract of land and run it
side-by-side with the institute's programs.
One day, rla Prabhupda made an appointment with Bon Maharja to discuss
these plans. At the scheduled time, rla Prabhupda took Brahmnanda Maharja,
Jagada Prabhu, and myself to see Bon Maharja at his institute. At Prabhupda's request
I brought along the little book I had written, called The Scientific Basis of Krsna
Consciousness, and also my Ph.D. thesis, which I had dedicated to His Divine Grace rla
Prabhupda. When we met Bon Maharja, rla Prabhupda showed him my writings and
said, These books were written by my disciple.
In this way, rla Prabhupda kindly introduced me to Bon Maharja and then
began outlining a scientific Vaisnava research institute that we could all organize
together--including Bon Maharja--to preach Krsna consciousness in the academic world.
Bon Maharja was very impressed with rla Prabhupda's ideas. He expressed
willingness to help with the project but wanted to wait for some time before committing
himself and his institute's property. Bon Maharja then gave us a tour of his institute,
showing us the libraries and classrooms. rla Prabhupda, Brahmnanda Maharja,
Jagada Prabhu, and myself then returned to Krsna-Balarma Mandira, full of hope that
a settlement would come quickly so that we could start the new institute as soon as
possible.
Shortly thereafter, I left for the United States. Whatever letters I received from
rla Prabhupda always contained plans for the institute project and instructions on how
I should begin the academic preaching programs.
Towards the end of February 1975, rla Prabhupda visited the Atlanta Temple
and once again reminded me of the institute project, saying that he was still negotiating
with Bon Maharja. Soon after, when Prabhupda was in New Orleans, Brahmnanda
Maharja called me to convey a message from Prabhupda. The message was that
negotiations with Bon Maharja were not going well, and that the hope for starting the
institute in Vrndvana did not seem very bright. rla Prabhupda instructed me to begin
thinking of someplace in the United States where we could start the institute.
On August 31, 1975, rla Prabhupda confirmed this message by writing to me
the following: The negotiations with Bon Maharja are not very feasible. They are too
encumbrous. So, if possible, you should start the institute in the USA. In the meantime,
request all the GBCs to send me a list of all our disciples who have an M.A., B.A., or
Ph.D. degree.
So the institute would be in the U.S. However, since I was still working at Emory
University in Atlanta, at that time I could not do anything concrete toward starting the
institute, although I did talk with Rpanga Prabhu about Prabhupda's plans and desires
for the project. Rpanga Prabhu was most interested, and he immediately invited all our
members, namely Mdhava Prabhu, Sdapta Prabhu, Ravindra Swarpa Prabhu, and
myself, for a meeting on his farm, which was in Virginia at that time. We decided that
during the coming Mayapura Festival we should get some solid guidelines about the
institute project from His Divine Grace rla Prabhupda and the GBC body.
Unfortunately, as it turned out I could not go to the Mayapura Festival that year,
because I was struggling with my visa and could not leave the United States. So the
Mayapura Festival came and went, with little progress on our project.
Then, in July 1976, Prabhupda came to the Washington Temple. Attending were
Sdapta Prabhu, Mdhava Prabhu, and Bhakta Hans Bickel--an economist who worked
for the Federal Government. Rpanga Prabhu and myself all went there to take darana.
For nearly a week, Prabhupda constantly instructed us about preaching among the
scientists and scholars and how to organize the Bhaktivedanta Institute. At that time,
Prabhupda specifically instructed us to build a model of the universe that could later be
built full-size at the future Mayapura Temple and Planetarium complex.
Later that year, I got my permanent visa and began planning to leave Emory
University once and for all and start the Bhaktivedanta Institute, as rla Prabhupda had
so mercifully instructed me. In December 1976, Rpnnga Prabhu hosted the
organizational meeting of the Institute at the Washington Temple.
In January 1977, I left the U. S. to see rla Prabhupda at Bhuvanesvara, a city
not far from Jaganntha Pr and the capital of Orissa. On January 31, at 8:30 P.M., I
arrived at the little hut where rla Prabhupda was staying. He called me in immediately
and started speaking about the preaching program among the scientists and scholars
around the world. rla Prabhupda's heart was full of love for the disciples present there,
and full of enthusiasm for preaching to the scholars. He said to me, Don't worry about
expenses; I'll give you everything. Just go and preach.
On February 3, rla Prabhupda laid the foundation stone for the Bhuvanesvara
Temple. On this day, His Divine Grace kindly instructed me to give a lecture on science
and Krsna consciousness before the invited scholars and other guests.
That night, rla Prabhupda left Bhuvanesvara with his servants and a little later
I followed in another car. I arrived in Calcutta on the morning of February 5, and that
evening all the devotees gathered around rla Prabhupda in his room at the Calcutta
Temple. Once again he instructed me extensively about the academic preaching project.
Among many other things, rla Prabhupda said, Your dress must command respect.
You should dress like a scientist--in suit and tie--for preaching.
Soon after, I took leave of rla Prabhupda and went to Manipura. I attended a
big pandala program in Bombay in late March of that year that was organized by Gopla
Krsna Prabhu and Girirja Maharja. The subject was Modern Civilization Is a Failure:
Krsna Consciousness Is the Only Solution. rla Prabhupda was there, and many
prominent guests and speakers were invited. On March 26, in the presence of His Divine
Grace rla Prabhupda and about three thousand guests, I presented a talk and slide
show on the science of Krsna consciousness.
At that time, our Bombay guesthouse was not yet ready, so His Divine Grace rla
Prabhupda was staying at Mr. Mahadevia's home. Mr Mahadevia is one of our important
life members in Bombay. He served rla Prabhupda in many ways and rla
Prabhupda very much appreciated his sincere service.
On the morning of March 27, rla Prabhupda called for me to come to Mr.
Mahadevia's home, and I arrived there at 10 o'clock. Tamla-Krsna Maharja,
Bhavnanda Maharja, rdhara Maharja, Acytnanda Maharja, and Nava-yogendra
Maharja were there, and in their presence rla Prabhupda said to me, Thank you very
much for the nice lecture you gave yesterday. It was very scientific. His Divine Grace
was so appreciative of my very little, insignificant service. He continued, If necessary,
make the whole new Bombay building the Bhaktivedanta Institute. We will construct
another building. The Bhaktivedanta Institute has the greatest responsibility for
enhancing the prestige of ISKCON. Invite scholars and students to the Bhaktivedanta
Institute. Give them a nice place to sit, offer them nice prasdam, and preach to them
very nicely. It is for this that I trained you on the morning walks at Venice Beach in Los
Angeles. That is why I took you every morning at that time. Take good care of your
health.
In a few days, rla Prabhupda's quarters in the Bombay guesthouse were ready,
and he prepared to move there from Mr. Mahadevia's house. On the morning rla
Prabhupda was scheduled to arrive, I was in the Bombay Temple. We all heard that he
was coming, but we didn't know the exact time he would be arriving. Of course, everyone
was preparing to receive rla Prabhupda, but then all of a sudden he appeared--and
there hadn't been enough preparation. There weren't enough devotees to receive him
nicely, and to top it all off, the elevator broke down. Everyone was at a loss what to do.
Prabhupda was very angry and he chastised all the devotees. We were all completely
silent; we didn't know what to say. We quickly arranged for a palanquin and carried him
up to his quarters on the fifth floor.
When Prabhupda entered his rooms, his eyes were full of love for all the
devotees. He smiled broadly as he inspected the walls, the doors, the windows, the lamps,
and so on. He was very pleased with all the arrangements in his quarters. Then he sat
down, and all of us--there were about fifteen devotees--gathered around him. rla
Prabhupda started speaking very softly and very lovingly: Thank you very much. You
have given your life--everything--to me. I am eternally indebted to all of you. All of us
were silent. Then he turned to me and said, The next phase is yours. You must establish
our movement as a genuine scientific movement. You must preach to all the scholars and
scientists very vigorously. rla Prabhupda then asked me how much money I would
need per month for the institute. I am ready to spend any amount of money for your
preaching, he said.
I answered, rla Prabhupda, I don't have any experience in running such an
organization. I am very ignorant about these matters. I think Tamla-Krsna Maharja will
be able to give you a more accurate estimate, since he is more experienced.
Then rla Prabhupda turned to Tamla-Krsna Maharja and asked his opinion.
Tamla-Krsna Maharja replied, About $10,000 per month.
Prabhupda said, Yes. I'll give you $10,000 per month--or more, if you need
more.
Then Gopla Krsna Prabhu asked, Prabhupda, where will the money come
from?
Prabhupda replied, From the BBT in Los Angeles. rla Prabhupda then
instructed Tamla-Krsna Maharja to make arrangements with Rmesvara Maharja
immediately. Prabhupda said, We should set aside a minimum of $10,000 per month.
This money should not be touched for any purpose except the preaching work of the
Bhaktivedanta Institute. rla Prabhupda then turned to me, I am ready to give you
whatever money and manpower you need to assist you in this work. Do not worry about
money. As a result of this promise, His Divine Grace rla Prabhupda wrote the letters
to Rmevara Maharja and Dravida Prabhu. Excerpts are quoted below:

***

Hare Krishna Land

Juhu Road
Juhu, Bombay 400 054. India

2 April, 1977

My dear Rameswar,

Please accept my blessings.

Now we are forming a scientists' party, and we shall try with their
help to establish Krsna consciousness as the genuine scientific movement of
the world by exposing the so-called scientists as nothing but speculators.
Svarpa Dmodara has received very good response here in India from the
scientific community, and there is good hope that many others will join him.
He is returning to America for preparing some publications, and when these
are completed I have asked him to tour vigorously throughout the world,
lecturing with his other colleagues at all major institutions and universities.
He has drawn up a budget of immediate needs, a copy of which is enclosed,
and I immediately sanction this amount. Whatever expenditure he requires,
supply him immediately from the BBT. I am prepared to give $10,000 or
more monthly, if required, to finance this most important preaching program.
So whatever money Svarpa Dmodara needs must be supplied monthly, and
he will send you accounts. . . .
Swarpa Dmodara has requested that Dravida ds may come and
help him with editing work. The scientists are publishing some booklets to be
completed by their return here on Janmastami. If possible, please arrange for
Dravida ds to join them.

Hoping this meets you well.

Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/tkg
His Holiness Rameswar Swami ISKCON Los Angeles

***

Hare Krishna Land

Juhu Road
Juhu, Bombay 400 054, India

2 April, 1977

My dear Dravida das,

Please accept my blessings,

You may be knowing that we have formed one party of scientists
under the leadership of rman Svarpa Dmodara Prabhu. Also, we have
formed the Bhaktivedanta Institute for organizing scientific presentations of
Krsna consciousness. This party is our most important preaching arm, with
which we will be able to destroy the bogus speculation and cheating, which
goes under the banner of scientific advancement. Therefore I have got great
hope for Svarpa Dmodara and his colleagues. I want them to travel
vigorously throughout the world to lecture in all universities and other
institutions. There is no lack of financial resources, and we shall spare
nothing to see to this party's success.
His party already consists of Mdhava Prabhu, Sadpta Prabhu,
Ravindra Swarpa Prabhu, and himself, and he has approached me that he
would like you to help with the editing work, as they are publishing scientific
papers. In consultation with Rameswara Maharja, try to have whatever work
you are doing assumed by others so that you can free yourself for working
with Svarpa Dmodara. You may contact Svarpa Dmodara, who is
returning to America, for more details.

Hoping this meets you well.

 Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/tkg
Sriman Dravida das ISKCON Los Angeles
***

Shortly after the gathering in rla Prabhupda's quarters at the Bombay Temple, I
left for the United States to publish our monographs, which were then being prepared.
Suddenly, His Divine Grace called all the GBC members to Vrndvana because his
health had taken a turn for the worse.
I arrived in Vrndvana on May 25 at 4:30 P.M., and when I showed rla
Prabhupda the manuscripts of the three monographs, he was extremely pleased. I was at
rla Prabhupda's bedside from 7:30 P.M. until 12:00 midnight, and during that time he
spoke many times about defeating the scientists. Indeed, his heart was full of desires to
defeat the material scientists. Occasionally he instructed the devotees about the duty of
brahmacrs quoting from Narada Muni's instructions in the rmad-Bhgavatam. He
said the brahmacrs should follow in the footsteps of Narada Muni. rla Prabhupda
also spoke about life within the atom and about our farm projects--especially our farm
project in Hyderabad. He was very concerned about our farm project in Hyderabad; he
wanted to make it very successful. rla Prabhupda mentioned how during Krsna's time
the land of Vrndvana was wet with milk because of sanktrtana-yaja. Prabhupda said,
We should make our farm projects like Krsna's Vrndvana. Then we can show them to
the whole world, and people will be happy.
I attended His Divine Grace every day, and he almost always spoke from rmad-
Bhgavatam and about the Bhaktivedanta Institute. Thus, although rla Prabhupda's
physical body seemed to be very weak, he was mentally very, very strong, and his heart
was full of enthusiasm to defeat the material scientists and transform the Godless society.
He was advising me very strongly to make programs so that we could establish Krsna
consciousness in scientific circles.
It was very clear that His Divine Grace rla Prabhupda was constantly thinking
about the Bhaktivedanta Institute and how it would introduce Krsna consciousness into
the academic community. On June l, at 5:30 A.M., rla Prabhupda called me into the
washroom. He was rinsing his face and mouth and simultaneously chastising Bhakti Caru
Maharja because he was pouring water on rla Prabhupda's hands too slowly. Then
rla Prabhupda turned to me and said, You should establish a branch of the
Bhaktivedanta Institute here in Vrndvana. The guru-kla here will be more prestigious if
the Institute is added. The name of the institution here in Vrndvana should be 'The
Bhaktivedanta Gurukla and Institute for Higher Studies,' and you should be the director
of both.
Later that morning, in rla Prabhupda's room, he repeated the above in the
presence of Jagada Prabhu then Dr. Sharma, the principal of our guru-kla. Jagada
Prabhu and myself got together to decide what to do in light of rla Prabhupda's new
instructions. As a first step in establishing the institute in Vrndvana, we hit upon the idea
of holding a scientific conference there, and that evening I informed rla Prabhupda of
the idea. He was very pleased. He said we should work very actively and enthusiastically.
 Personally, he said, I never liked to be idle, and I do not want you to be idle.
Make programs; always keep busy. Our mission is to take people out of darkness.
On June 2, at 6:00 A.M., rla Prabhupda continued his instructions to me, You
have everything--books, money, men--so show that our movement is scientific. Make a
movie to show that there is a superior energy, and that without jva-bhta this material
energy has no value. Also, hold conferences in Bombay and in all the major cities around
the world. Do it! I've trained you for all this. On June 4, at 5:00 A.M., rla Prabhupda
instructed me, Start a revolution. Hold conferences everywhere. Transform the Godless
society. Then Tamla-Krsna Maharja informed me. rla Prabhupda has advised
Rmevara Maharja to set aside at least $7,000 to $8,000 per month as the account for
your preaching program.
On June 5, at 3:00 A.M., rla Prabhupda called for me to come to the roof of the
Vrndvana guesthouse. When I arrived, I saw Prabhupda sitting, and atadhanya
Maharja was standing beside him, massaging his head. Prabhupda started instructing
me about the Bhaktivedanta Institute: The Bhaktivedanta Institute should be based on
Bhagavad-gt. We have to prove that for the solution to economic problems, agriculture
and cow protection are the topmost programs--not industry. For all aspects of society--
religion, economics, politics, and so on--the foundation is the Bhagavad-gt. That is a
fact.
A few days later, rla Prabhupda spoke about the Bhaktivedanta Institute hall
that I had requested be constructed in Vrndvana. Bhagatji--an old friend of Prabhupda's
from Vrndvana, Tamla-Krsna Maharja, and myself were present. rla Prabhupda
approved my idea. There had been some talk of building a dharmashalla, but rla
Prabhupda said we should build the Bhaktivedanta Institute hall instead.
After that, I left for Manipura for a few days, returning at 11:30 A.M. on June 19.
I brought some lotus flowers from Manipura and offered them to rla Prabhupda, and
he made some wonderful comments in appreciation. Then Taml-Krsna Maharja came
in with the latest Sankrtana Newsletter and read it aloud to Prabhupda. He was
extremely pleased to hear the report of book distribution. He remarked with wide-open
eyes. As long as book distribution goes on, I'll never die; I'll live forever. Then he
turned to me and said, You have to distribute your publications to the scientists.
On June 20, rla Prabhupda called me at 6:45 A.M. and poured out divine
nectar until 9:00 A.M. He was keenly interested in preaching to the scientists, and he was
very pleased with my short report about my meeting with a few scientists in Kolkata. I
suggested that if we could convince at least two or three leading world scientists about
Krsna consciousness that would be enough to convince the whole world. rla
Prabhupda commented, I have said that many times before. I then suggested that the
scientists, had to be from the U.S. because nowadays anything done in the U.S. is
respected all over the world and taken as authoritative. So, I said, the Bhaktivedanta
Institute must have a strong base in the U. S.
rla Prabhupda approved and remarked, I have great respect for the USA. It is
my fatherland. And India is my motherland. Then rla Prabhupda started instructing
me about the life within the atom and about the science of bhakti-yoga. Next he said,
The whole human civilization has become an animal civilization--animals nicely
dressed. I want to change them into human beings: this is my noble desire. Then rla
Prabhupda changed the subject and began speaking about evolution. He remarked, A
long time ago a rascal named Darwin spoiled the whole human civilization.
On June 21, I came back from visiting a few scientists in gra. I went to see
Tamla-Krsna Maharja at 2:30 P.M., and he told me that rla Prabhupda had asked
about me that morning. When Prabhupda heard that I was there, he called for me
immediately and started instructing me: Whatever I say is 100 percent correct. Whatever
I say is completely undefeatable. I'll give you all the ideas; you develop them. Then he
asked me, Do you know what God is? I remained silent, and Prabhupda asked me to
get the little Oxford dictionary on his desk and look up the word God. I opened it and
read out loud. 'God is the supreme being.' Then Prabhupda said, So, the dictionary
says, the stras say, the Vedas say that God is the Supreme Person: nityo nitynm
cetana cetannm. So, prove scientifically that God is the Supreme Person.
Then I inquired from rla Prabhupda whether the title Bhaktivedanta Vijana
Conference would be acceptable for the coming Vrndvana conference. Prabhupda
suggested that people would not take this title seriously, and he said the title should be
The First International Life-Comes-From-Life Conference. Prabhupda continued. If
you prove that life comes from life, then the logical question will be 'What is the original
life?' The original life is Krsna, or God. So the whole world has to accept God; this will
be our success in Krsna consciousness. Prabhupda further explained. We are all small
'Gods.' We all possess the same quality as God, but we are maintained. Then rla
Prabhupda asked me three times. Is this clear? I mentioned to rla Prabhupda that I
was leaving for Bombay the next day, and that I would then go on to the U. S.
Prabhupda said, Take the best part of the new Bombay building as your office.
Tamla-Krsna Maharja later reminded me, Prabhupda told me that you should be
given the best part of the building as your office. It should be impressive. Prabhupda
wants a showcase.
At 8 o'clock in the evening, rla Prabhupda again called me. All religions of
the world, he said, have some conception of God, but none of them has any idea about
the personal character of God. Write books and show that God is a person.
Soon afterward, I took leave of rla Prabhupda and left Vrndvana to catch a
train from Mathura to Bombay. I was heading for Boston. Since Prabhupda's health was
deteriorating, and since he was instructing me almost every moment I was in Vrndvana,
I was very reluctant to leave him at that time. However, I wanted to make a little humble
offering in the form of the Life-Comes-From-Life Conference, and under the
circumstances I was thinking the conference should be held as soon as possible. To
accomplish this I had to prepare the monographs in Boston. Before I left, Tamla-Krsna
Maharja suggested that I not leave immediately, because Prabhupda had been
instructing me so much. He said, Prabhupda never speaks to anyone for as long as he
speaks to you. He asked me to remain for some time. I told him, however, that if I
stayed in Vrndvana, there would be no conference. So he agreed that I should go to
Boston to print the monographs and then return to Vrndvana as soon as possible. Thus I
left Vrndvana very reluctantly, planning to return well before the conference's starting
date of October 14.
When I arrived in the U. S., Sdapta Prabhu, Mdhava Prabhu, and myself
worked very hard in Boston to get all the monographs printed before the conference. We
worked day and night. I was hoping to return to India as soon as possible to arrange for
the conference. And, of course, I wanted to see rla Prabhupda very badly.
Then, during August, Karandhara Prabhu called for a meeting in Los Angeles on
the First American Theistic Exhibit. Rmevara Swami, Jayatrtha Maharja, Sdapta
Prabhu, Rpanga Prabhu, Ravindra Swarpa Prabhu, Nara-nryana Prabhu, Baradrja
Prabhu, Karandhara Prabhu, and myself were present. While the meeting was going on
we got a telephone call saying that rla Prabhupda was coming to the U. S. We were
shocked; we couldn't believe it. We learned that Prabhupda would be in England very
soon, and that he would stay there for a few weeks before coming to the U.S. All of us
were very concerned, and we immediately sent a telegram to Vrndvana requesting
Prabhupda not to make this journey in his present condition. Rmevara Swami,
Jayatrtha Maharja, Rpanga Prabhu, and myself signed the telegram. However, within
a few days we learned that rla Prabhupda was already at Bhaktivedanta Manor.
I had been planning to leave for India as soon as possible, but when I heard that
rla Prabhupda was at the Manor, I decided to stop there to see him on my way to
Vrndvana. I left Boston on September 9 and arrived in London at 8:30 A.M. on the 10th.
Jna dsa Prabhu was waiting for me at London Airport, and we immediately went
together to see rla Prabhupda at the Manor.
When I saw rla Prabhupda, I noticed for the first time a great change in his
appearance. He looked very pale and very weak, and he remained almost silent when I
entered the room. I offered Prabhupda a big flower garland from the Boston devotees,
and then he started slowly speaking to me in a low voice. He told me how to preach to the
material scientists--how to defeat their philosophy. He said, We do not condemn the
material scientists for their work, but at least they should not neglect the existence of the
Supreme Being, God, Krsna. Then Prabhupda's eyes filled with tears, and he did not
speak any longer.
At 8:30 the next morning--it was Sunday, September 11-- rla Prabhupda called
me to his room. He spoke in Bengali: mra jvana esa hate ycche. [My life is
coming to an end]. I would like to spend the last few days in India, and I would like to
see the Bombay Temple. It will give me great encouragement. Arrange for it
immediately--call Tamla. Then we all discussed the matter together, trying to make
some plans for Prabhupda to go back to India as soon as possible.
I was glad; at least Prabhupda would go back to India. I left England that day at
5:40 P.M. to make arrangements for the Vrndvana conference, for I knew that
Prabhupda would be back in India in a few days. When I reached Vrndvana, I saw that
no preparations had been made for the conference. Before I left I had arranged for some
preliminary arrangements to be made, but somehow they had been neglected. I was very
concerned, because there was very little time before the conference. So I immediately
started running all over Delhi and gra to invite scholars and scientists to the conference.
By the mercy of rla Prabhupda, I was able to contact more than one hundred scholars
in a short time, and I invited them all to attend the conference.
The conference would last three days--Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the 14th,
15th, and 16th of October. At this time all the GBC members also came to Vrndvana to
be with rla Prabhupda.
After Prabhupda returned to Vrndvana, he constantly expressed great concern
about the conference. Almost every day he asked about it--how many scholars were
coming, how the arrangements had been made, whether the hall was suitable for the
guests, whether there were enough chairs and desks, whether the decorations were
complete, and so on. Prabhupda also asked about the arrangements for the prasda, and
he specifically requested Krtannanda Maharja and Bhavnanda Maharja to help me
make the conference a success.
By the mercy of rla Prabhupda we had finished the three monographs, and we
offered them to him before the conference began. He was very pleased with them. Then,
on October 13, Prabhupda told me specifically, Do something so that I can see the
results before my departure. So Prabhupda was actually preparing for his departure.
However, I always felt that rla Prabhupda was going to recover soon and be active
again.
Early in the morning on October 14--the initial day of the First International Life-
Comes-From-Life Conference--I went to see rla Prabhupda. He told me, I want to
come to your conference, but because of my health I cannot do so. So take this bust of me
and put it on the desk in the conference room, and put a garland on it every day during
the conference, and conduct the conference very nicely. His Divine Grace rla
Prabhupda was so enthusiastic about the conference that he called me three times that
morning, at two-hour intervals, to inquire how everything was going.
At 6:00 in the evening, as soon as the first day of the conference was over, all the
members of the Bhaktivedanta Institute who were there in Vrndvana went to see rla
Prabhupda. Brahmtrtha Prabhu, Sadpta Prabhu, Mdhava Prabhu, Jna dsa
Prabhu, Rpanga Prabhu, and myself were present. Tamla-Krsna Maharja said to rla
Prabhupda, Prabhupda, all the scientists are here. They're all dressed up in shirts and
ties. rla Prabhupda immediately opened his eyes wide, and he insisted that we all sit
before him in chairs. He was full of love and appreciation for our little attempt to render
him some service. He spoke very lovingly to all of us and then said, You must all be
tired now. Go and take rest.
Early on the morning of the 17th, when the three-day conference had ended, rla
Prabhupda asked me about the overall effect of the event. He asked me how many
scientists had come and what their overall reaction had been. I answered, Only fifty
scientists came; I was expecting more. Many more promised to come, but not everyone
came. Still, those few who came were very interested. They thought it was a very good
conference, because it opened up some dialogue about the real status of our present
understanding of the origin of life. So, it was a small beginning, and I would have been
happier if all the scientists had come.
rla Prabhupda was quiet. Then he remarked, It was a success. Prabhupda
was always encouraging whatever we did. He was always appreciating our small efforts
and trying to encourage us as much as possible. He further said, In this way hold
conferences everywhere and establish Krsna consciousness as a scientific movement.
Thus, in his last days in Vrndvana, rla Prabhupda spoke to me practically
every day about how to preach Krsna consciousness in the scientific community--how the
Bhaktivedanta Institute must become a very powerful means to spread Krsna
consciousness among the scholars and intellectuals.
Fortunately, I was personally attending rla Prabhupda in his last days, and
every day, whenever I went to him, he spoke about science and Krsna consciousness.
Although his physical body was extremely weak, every time I entered his room he spoke
to me:
Svarpa Dmodara, you must preach this Krsna consciousness in the scientific
community. It was very clear that this scientific preaching program was very, very dear
to rla Prabhupda, and he wanted us, somehow or other, to make programs so that this
type of preaching would go on very vigorously. I was with rla Prabhupda practically
all the time during those last days, except for a few hours when I took rest, and all the
time I was with him he would speak of the Bhaktivedanta Institute.
On October 27, at 8:00 in the evening, Gopla Krsna Prabhu brought rla
Prabhupda a newspaper clipping about the scientific conference we had held. The
clipping was from the Statesman, one of the most important newspapers in India. The
headline read, The Non-physical View of the Origin of Species. I showed the clipping
to rla Prabhupda, and he asked Tamla-Krsna Maharja to read it to him. When rla
Prabhupda heard the newspaper report, he was extremely pleased, and he remarked,
The Bhaktivedanta Institute is now recognized.
During the next few days, whenever any guests came to visit rla Prabhupda, he
would always ask someone to read the Statesman article on the conference. On October
30, rla Prabhupda's Godbrothers Ananda Brahmacr and Krsna-dsa Bbaji came to
see him at 11:00 A.M., and again rla Prabhupda asked someone to read the Statesman
report. In this way, rla Prabhupda was always trying to encourage his disciples and
always appreciating the little service they were trying to render him. To Ananda
Brahmacr and Krsna-dsa Bbaji, Prabhupda specifically mentioned how I had
dedicated my Ph.D. thesis to him. He also quoted the loka from rmad - Bhgavatam
beginning idam hi pumsas tapasah rutasya v. Prabhupda said that whatever
knowledge one may have, it becomes meaningful only if it is utilized properly in the
service of Krsna.
As rla Prabhupda's departure approached, we were all gathered around him
day and night, and every time he knew I was nearby, he would speak about science and
Krsna consciousness. On November 6, at 9:00 A.M., rla Prabhupda specifically asked
me, What have you learned to preach?
I responded. rla Prabhupda, we have learned only how to repeat what you
have taught us. We are all part and parcel of Krsna, and our duty is to serve Him under all
circumstances.
rla Prabhupda nodded his approval. . . .
This has been a narration of rla Prabhupda's visions, desires, and instructions
for preaching among the scientific class of people. From these instructions we derive
constant guidance and strength to execute his orders. I humbly bow down to all my
Godbrothers, praying that they bestow their blessings upon me so that we can all join
together in fulfilling rla Prabhupda's vision in the spirit of unity and cooperation. This
will be the perfection of our lives.
*****

H.H. Bhakti Svarpa Dmodara Maharja first wrote this around 1981.
"Bhaktivedanta Institute has the greatest responsibility for
enhancing the prestige of ISKCON." rla Prabhupda